RICHFIELD — Dog trainer Fred Hassen, chief executive officer of Sit Means Sit, and other dog trainers will offer a weekend dog-training seminar April 12-13 at 4100 Broadview Road.

The two-day seminar will teach dog owners how to effectively communicate with their dog at a distance without the standard practice of yelling. The program also will provide the foundational blocks needed to teach dogs basic to advanced obedience skills. To preview the program, visit www.SitMeansSit.com.

The seminar will begin each day at 9 a.m. with a free one-hour demonstration open to the public, and continue from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the workshop.

The cost is $199 per dog. Participants are asked to bring a collar for their dog.

For registration and other information, contact Tara Yeater at (330) 310-3647 or Tara Yeater@SitMeansSit.com, or Paul Pollock at (330) 431-1997 or PaulPollock@SitMeansSit.com.

Hattie Larlham seminar to focus on employment for disabled

KENT — The Hattie Larlham Research Institute will present “Employment Through Social Capital,” by Al Condeluci, Ph.D., CEO-UCP, of Pittsburgh, April 23 at Kent State University’ (KSU) White Hall.

The seminar will focus on solutions and answers to challenges faced by people with disabilities, the majority of whom are either unemployed or underemployed, according to organizers.

The presentation will define and delineate the concept of social capital and offer a community building perspective designed to shift the culture to be more inclusive and supportive.

Following his lecture, Condeluci will join a panel discussion titled “Problems and Solutions in Employing People With Disabilities.”

Invited panelists include: Phil Rumrill, professor and director, Center for Disability Studies, KSU: George Cyphers, M.Ed., CRC, LPC, clinical director of VoCare Inc. of Cleveland; Juanita Greenwood, program director, Vocational Services, Hattie Larlham Community Living; Danielle Martin, regional manager, VocWorks Inc.; and Bob Morgan, supervisor, Ohio Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation.

The panel moderator will be state Rep. Tom Patton (R-District 18).

The cost for the seminar, which runs from 9 a.m. to noon, is $35 and includes refreshments, parking and materials.

To register, contact Phylliss Steiner, director of Creative Arts, Hattie Larlham Research Institute, at (800) 233-8611, ext. 3013, or via e-mail at phylliss.steiner@hattielarlham.org.

For more information, visit www.hattielarlham.org.

PMBA accepting applications

GREATER AKRON — The Partnership for the Minority Business Accelerator (PMBA) is accepting applications for its two-year business accelerator program for black and Hispanic business owners in Medina, Portage and Summit counties.

The PMBA, funded by the GAR Foundation, combines the resources and expertise of the Akron Urban League and Akron SCORE, which counsels small businesses, and Kent State University.

PMBA staff will identify and address a business owner’s needs and goals through evaluations, counseling, mentoring and workshops. To facilitate each client’s individual action plan, officials will customize services, such as business development strategies, management assistance, business education/training and assistance in securing business loans.

A prospective client must be a for-profit business in Medina, Summit or Portage counties with growth potential, gross revenue from $50,000 to $2.5 million, have been in business for at least one year and be majority black and/or Hispanic-owned.

The business owner must make a substantial time and resource commitment to participate in the program, share financial information and be receptive to making recommended changes to grow the business.

Applications, due May 2, are available online at pmba1.org.

Information sessions for businesses that meet the above qualifications will take place:

• April 3 from 4 to 5:15 p.m. at the Akron Urban League, 440 Vernon Odom Blvd.
• April 8 from 10 to 11:15 a.m. at the Medina County Public Library, 210 S. Broadway; and
• April 30 from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. at the Kent Free Library, 312 W. Main St.

More information and registration, which is required, is available by e-mailing aulmbdc@aol.com, by calling (234) 542-4145 or by writing to: PMBA, c/o Akron Urban League, 440 Vernon Odom Blvd., Akron, OH 44307.